Applesauce

Truth: I'm picky about my apples (just like my bedsheets). I like them a little tart, a little sweet, and they must be crispy. Like, squirt you in the face with juiciness crispy. So I've learned through trial and error which apples to buy and which ones to avoid, and was excited when one of my favorites went on sale (Haralson, in case anyone cares). So excited, in fact, that I bought a whole bag. When we got home, I pulled one out, rinsed it off, and bit into it with great anticipation--and then promptly pulled it away in disgust (I sure have a flair for story-telling, don't I?) Apparently, we had mistakenly bought a bag of McIntosh apples--and their tender flesh is far from my crispy requirement. I certainly wasn't going to eat them, and I knew that at the rate Darrell snacks (at least on healthy stuff) they'd never get eaten before they went bad, so I did what any good, frugal person would do. I peeled them (actually--let's be fair--Darrell peeled them), sliced them, threw them in my crock-pot with a few simple ingredients....

And made applesauce!

I was actually really surprised by how easy the whole process was, and there's a part of me that secretly loves knowing exactly what I'm putting into my body. And because it's pretty easy to adapt and customize, it's really your own fault if you make a batch that you don't like, especially if you are sneaking a few taste tests before it cools to make sure it is sweet enough/cinnamon-y enough. So don't come complaining to me if you don't like it.

Crockpot Applesauce
(originally found here)

16 apples (keep in mind the kind you use will affect the tartness/sweetness of your sauce)
1/3 cup sugar
1 1/2 tsp cinnamon
Juice of 1 lemon
1/3 cup water or apple juice

Peel and core apples and cut into large slices. Place in crockpot with all ingredients, stirring a few times to coat. Cook on high for four hours or low for eight hours, stirring a few times during cooking. When the apples are done, mash or puree them to a consistency you like and store in an air-tight container in the fridge.

That's it! Super easy. Darrell and I ended up using only six apples, so we just guesstimated the amounts and it turned out fine. Like I said, this is not one of those recipes that you have to follow to a tee; it can be pretty well customized to your liking. And if you are curious about how much applesauce you can expect to make, our six apples made about two cups. Pretty darn reasonable if you ask me!